Watchatlas

Mondaine

Zurich, Switzerland · Est. 1951

Founded by Erwin Bernheim

Mondaine is a Swiss watch brand founded in 1951 by the Bernheim family, and is the official licensee of the iconic Swiss Federal Railways clock design by Hans Hilfiker. The SBB railway clock, with its distinctive red second hand that pauses at 12 before advancing, has become one of the most recognisable watch designs in the world.

Founded
1951
Headquarters
Zurich, Switzerland
Group
Other
Price Segment
Entry
Status
Active

Key Collections

  • Official Swiss Railways — Mondaine’s iconic licensed SBB line, translating the Swiss Federal Railways station clock into wristwatch form with the famous red seconds hand and clean, highly legible dial architecture.
  • Helvetica — A typography-led Mondaine collection that channels Swiss design clarity into a clean, modern watch aesthetic, pairing restrained layouts with a distinctly graphic identity.
  • Essence (2024) — Mondaine’s eco-conscious take on its iconic Swiss Railway design, using sustainable materials while preserving the instantly recognizable minimalist dial, bold markers, and red seconds hand that define the brand.

Timeline

  • 1951 — Erwin Bernheim founds Mondaine in Zurich, initially as a watch trading company.
  • 1986 — Mondaine secures the licence from the Swiss Federal Railways to produce watches based on Hans Hilfiker's 1944 station clock design.
  • 1997 — The SBB railway watch gains MoMA Design Collection recognition, cementing its status as a design icon.
  • 2016 — Launch of the Helvetica collection, celebrating Swiss design heritage through typography-inspired timepieces.
  • 2020 — Introduction of the Essence line, pioneering sustainable materials in Swiss watchmaking.
  • 2025 — Expands the Essence sustainability line with vegan straps and bio-sourced castor-oil cases. Launches 75th-anniversary SBB Official Railway Clock Watch in limited gold edition.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mondaine

Why does the Mondaine second hand pause at 12?
The distinctive 'stop-to-go' second hand pauses at 12 o'clock for about 1.5 seconds before the minute hand advances — exactly replicating how the original SBB station clocks synchronise across Switzerland's rail network.
Is Mondaine officially connected to Swiss railways?
Yes. Mondaine is the exclusive licensee of the SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) clock design, originally created by engineer Hans Hilfiker in 1944.

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